Canberra Nationals Women 81 – 60 Sydney Comets Women
National Women’s Basketball League 1 East – Round 10, July 18, 2026

Match Overview

The Canberra Nationals Women continued their impressive form with a commanding 81–60 win over the Sydney Comets Women on Saturday afternoon. Playing at home, the Nationals controlled the tempo from start to finish, using a balanced attack and a stifling defence to secure their sixth victory of the season in the NWBL1 East.

Fast Start Sets the Tone

Canberra came out firing, racing to a 25–12 lead in the opening quarter. Their perimeter shooting was particularly effective, with the guards knocking down four three-pointers in the first ten minutes. Sydney struggled to keep pace, committing four early turnovers that the Nationals converted into fast-break points. By the end of the first half, Canberra had stretched the margin to 46–28, leaving the Comets with a mountain to climb.

Comets Fight Back but Nationals Hold Firm

To their credit, the Sydney Comets Women did not fold. Led by a strong third-quarter performance from their starting backcourt, they outscored Canberra 22–18 in the period and trimmed the deficit to 14 points early in the fourth quarter. However, the Nationals responded with a 10–2 run, anchored by a dominant presence in the paint, to restore order and push the lead back to 22 points. The Comets never got closer than 15 points the rest of the way.

Standout Players

• Canberra Nationals: A double-double from the centre – 16 points and 13 rebounds – was the headline, but depth was the real story. Four other Nationals scored in double figures, including a guard who posted 14 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists.
• Sydney Comets: The visitors’ top scorer finished with 18 points on 7-of-16 shooting, but received limited support. Only one other Comet reached double digits, and the team shot a dismal 31% from the field overall.

Defensive Edge

Canberra’s defensive effort was the key difference. They held Sydney to just 60 points – well below the Comets’ season average – and forced 17 turnovers that led to 22 points on the other end. The Nationals also dominated the glass, grabbing 45 rebounds compared to Sydney’s 31, which limited second-chance opportunities for the visitors.

Standings and What’s Next

The win improves Canberra’s record to 6–4, placing them firmly in the playoff conversation in the tightly contested NWBL1 East. Sydney drops to 4–6 and will need to win consistently in the second half of the season to keep their post‑season dreams alive. Both teams have quick turnarounds: Canberra will host the Albury Wodonga Women next weekend, while Sydney travel to face the Central Coast Crusaders Women.